Documents relating to Ai Smith

In [Q2] 1882, Ai married Emma Fieldhouse in Halifax.

He had an affair with Emma's sister Mary Jane Fieldhouse [1865-1935], and they had a son: Frank Berry [b  1886]

Ai was a clever man who invented a method of manufacturing wire which was patented. He wanted to set up a business with Emma and his brother Enos Smith but they had no money, so Eli Fieldhouse provided the finance on the understanding that he would benefit from the success of the enterprise.

Sadly no legal contract was made, and Eli did not benefit whilst Ai and his brother became wealthy. This caused friction in the family, which came to a head when Ai Smith, who was a womaniser, seduced his wife Emma's sister, Mary Jane Fieldhouse. He was the father of Mary Jane's illegitimate son Frank. Eli was furious and did not forgive either of them.

Some time later Emma became terminally ill with cancer. A solicitor was called and she made a draft Will leaving her share of the wealth from the Wire Works to some of her siblings. She was due to sign the document next day, but sadly died overnight and the Will was never signed. This was the second time that the Fieldhouse family lost out on a share of the wealth of Ai Smith!

Mary Jane had been banished, and her name was not to be mentioned.

At some point, she married James Berry, but this man was in and out of jail. He eventually either died or disappeared, and Mary Jane took her two youngest children – Annie [b 1896] and Lionel [b 1901] – to New Zealand. Mary Jane got Ai to give her the money for the fares. She was destitute at the time, and it has been suggested that Ai took advantage of that fact.

Just before the 1914 war, Eli had a stroke which left him bedridden. As he neared the end, Mary Jane's sisters – Annie and Amy – devised a scheme to get Mary Jane back from New Zealand to ask for her father's forgiveness.

As Eli lay dying, the family gathered round the bed and Mary Jane was led up to the old man to ask for his forgiveness. But Eli said

No

and pointed at a blank space in the room, saying

Never! See, there's your dead sister Emma.

She stands between us!

They all pleaded with him, including the vicar, but it was in vain. Mary Jane was heartbroken. She left the room saying

Goodbye, you will never see me again

Mary Jane was never seen again.

I am not sure whether she went back to her children in New Zealand again.

I have never found a record of her death